HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Mikula Family, 2015
Jim, Donna, Jayson, Jodi, Sammie, Isaac Ogg, Brandi Ogg and the late Jim Keech
In the News
Lawnmower racing runs in the family; 12-year-old champ's friends say 'You do what?'
M Live, July 17, 2013
Lawn mower racing family from Sparta featured in new documentary
M Live, July 18, 2012
Sparta middle school student captures national lawn mower racing title
M Live, September 19, 2012
A Dedication to fighting Huntington’s Disease
Chances are that anyone involved in the sport of lawn mower racing is familiar with the Mikula Family’s story. Jim Mikula has lost six of his siblings to Huntington’s Disease; these losses have fueled the Mikulas to fight back. Each year they have hosted a National Points Race in Sparta, Michigan to bring awareness and raise funds against the disease.
In its first twelve years, the STA-BIL Great Lakes Summer National Race or “Sparta Race” has raised over $120K for Huntington’s Disease research; in its 13th year it was renamed the Jim Keech Memorial Race for Huntington’s Disease to honor one of the USLMRA’s most beloved competitors.
On the Big Screen
The Mikulas’ story caught the eye of independent film maker, Mike Ratel who produced an 82-minute documentary on lawn mower racing from the Mikulas’ perspective called “On Your Mark, Get Set, Mow!” that debuted at the 2012 DC Independent Film Festival in Washington DC.
After attending his first lawn mower race in 2007, Ratel was so impressed with the family, he began to attend races across the country, taking him five years to complete the film.
About Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s Disease is a devastating, hereditary, degenerative brain disorder for which there is currently no effective treatment or cure. The disease slowly diminishes the affected individual’s ability to walk, think, talk and reason. Eventually, the person with Huntington’s becomes totally dependent upon others for his or her care. Huntington’s disease profoundly affects the lives of entire families — emotionally, socially and economically. To learn more visit the International Huntington Association website.